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Graduate Students

Graduate degrees for students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering are conferred by the Board of Trustees in August, February, and May. The deadlines to apply for graduation and submit degree requirements are published in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Graduation Date 2020

Apply for Graduation in SIS, and submit signed Application for Graduation (Degree Sheet) to Student Services, Dowling Hall

Use the “Academics” dropdown menu to find “Apply to graduate.” If you are not presented with the correct degree or program, please email gradserve@tufts.edu. Please note the option to apply for graduation will only be available during the open cycles noted above

Enter or update your diploma name and diploma mailing address. Use the pencil icon to add or update your name or address with the “Diploma” label.

Print the "Application for Graduation" PDF, complete the student section, and obtain the required department signatures.

Submit the signed application form to Student Services in Dowling Hall.

All degree candidates are required to complete the Graduate Exit Survey, including those who will remain at Tufts for another degree. Candidates will receive an email from the Office of Institutional Research with a personal link to the Graduate Exit Survey approximately 6 weeks before graduation. Survey responses are confidential.

Students completing a thesis or dissertation

Submit original copies of the required defense paperwork (linked below) to Student Services in Dowling Hall by the published deadlines.

For the Certificate of Fitness, all signatures should be obtained in ink at the defense. Electronic signatures, including signatures submitted by email or fax, are only accepted for a committee member who was not physically present at the defense. If necessary, students may submit more than one form to account for all original and electronic signatures.

Submit your thesis/dissertation online to ProQuest/UMI. Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for a complete list of deadlines; thesis/dissertation organization and formatting guidelines; and policies regarding examining committees and details of defense.

Graduation Date 2020

ProQuest and Forms Submission Deadline

February 2020

January 6, 2020

May 2020

April 27, 2020

August 2020

August 15, 2020

Ph.D. candidates

Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) online by the deadline for thesis/dissertation submission outlined in the above table. Save a copy of the certificate of completion for your records. Learn more about SED information including purpose and confidentiality. The SED is not required for OTD candidates.

Certificate candidates

Complete the electronic Recommendation for Award of a Certificate form and submit it to the advisor for your certificate program for approval. Certificates are awarded concurrently with graduate degrees in August, February, and May.

Petition to Participate in Commencement – August Candidates

Please note: Participation in Commencement is limited to students who are graduating in May or who graduated the prior August or February. Students who are on track to graduate in August 2019 may petition to participate in the May commencement ceremony. Advisor verification and approval is required. Students who are graduating in May should not submit this form.

The deadline for Graduate Student Services to receive approved petitions is March 30. Students whose petitions are submitted or approved after the deadline will not be listed in the Commencement Program.